Taxidermy question

[Ness]

What kind of care do you have to give a fish that you wish to have mounted after it leaves the water
but before it gets to the taxidermist??? Should you keep it dry or wet? I'm assuming refrigerated?
I've never really wanted a fish on my wall before until this Tuesday when I lost an enormous rainbow trout. ( Eight lb. test and no net... and not even a spare pair of hands to help. Be kind, I've already kicked myself numerous times...)
Now suddenly there's this spot on my wall that looks really bare...

[Gunga Din]

I keep a box or Borax in the boat. Immediately after pictures sprinkle this on the fish, coating it thoroughly. This will help the fish retain it's vivid colors rather than fading. Make sure you work the Borax into all the wrinkles and folds around the fins. Then wrap the fish in a towel or plastic bag and lay flat in a cool, shaded spot of the boat (I put it in my front livewell compartment [empty] with some ice around the plastic bag). You don't want any bends, bumps, wrinkles, folds, creases, etc in the fish. Get it to the taxidermist as quickly as possible.

[Juls_WI]

Hey Ness,

Mike Peluso had a great tip in one of his articles...and since your a gal, you would have access to these. Keep a pair of pantyhose stored away for just this situation. You simply slip the fish into the leg of the nylon, and it will protect the skin and fins of the fish.
Nothing looks worse on a mounted fish than scales that are missing, or fins that need "plastic surgury". ;-) Wrap the fish in butcher's paper (with the nylon still on), and then in a plastic bag, and freeze it until you can decide on a taxidermist to do it.
Check out some of the other work the taxidermist has done, and ask for some customer's numbers, to see if they are happy with his work. If he is good he will gladly give you their numbers.
Hope this helps some...

Juls
p.s.

[ibfishn]

If you have already taken pictures why not just release the fish and get a replica mount. They may cost a little more but in the end the satisfaction of releasing the fish will more than make up for it. Just my 2 cents.

[Ness]

Catch and release is not allowed on this particular site. It's owned by a Rod and Gun Club, and well, I just pay my dues. I don't really understand myself why Catch and Release is
banned. But they must have their reasons. I just
follow the rules.

[WALLEYE EYES]

I had a fish mounted recently. The taxidermist told me to wrap the fish asap in a wet towel. Make sure you fold down the fins. This will keep the colors vivid. Then wrap the fish in a garbage bag and get it on ice asap.You can keep the fish like this for a long time until you find a good taxidermist. Do a lot of checking before you settle on one, some do one spieces better then others. Good luck.

[red dog]

I always keep a couple pair of panty hose in the boat just in case ...... I catch a trophy! LMAO Yeah... that it.

[Matt]

My taxidermist told me to use Borax and wrap it in a damp towel them in plastic then freeze if necessary.

[Ness]

Red Dog, it can happen when you least expect it.
I was just fishing for supper when I hooked a monster. Now I'll be spending all summer and maybe summers for years to come attempting to do it again because I fumbled it the first time because I wasn't prepared. Dang, how was I to know that the tales the old farts are telling about two foot long fish in there are true. I guess there's a lesson to be learned here...

[Mike M]

Ron Lax is one of the finest taxidermists in the Midwest. He's up in Conover, WI and will be glad to share his knowledge in what's needed to keep a trophy fish. He can be reached at 715-547-3710.

[Melonbob(ON)]

Hey ness,

Taxidermy being a bit of a family tradition, I've done a few fish in the past and the info everyone is giving you is pretty good. We generally wrap the fish in a damp towel and freeze until it comes time to tackle it. keep it flat, take care of the fins and all should be well. If you have a camera, take a few pictures of the fish as soon as it's in the boat, that way your taxidermist will be able to match the colours of your particular catch alot better.....(:

Take care and tight lines!!!

Bob

[Gunga Din]

Now I know who that fake blond was in Red Dog's boat last weekend--I thought she looked rather masculine and had hairy legs! Red Dog's conondrum will be whether he wants to take off his new pair of panty hose and ruin it by stuffing it with a fish! :) We never did believe the "wig is just for tying hair jigs" story. LOL

[FreeByrd]

Ness,
I'd give strong consideration to a replica mount. I've used Artistic Anglers and Fibertech . Both do a good job.

Fiber Tech Productions, Inc.
10918 Gull River Road
East Gull Lake, Mn. 56401
Ph./ Fax (218) 825-8002
E-mail: fibertch@brainerd.net
www.up-north.com/fibertch

Artistic Anglers
218 963 2953

I also have several conventional taxidermy mounts and will NEVER get another. Most people can't tell the replicas are fake until we tell them. They look the same as they did when new. One is over 12 years old. My conventional mounts have started to fade and crack at about 5 years old.

Another benefit of replica is you can eat the fish or release it and still get the mount.
Steve